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family into which Gatien Phlipon's daughter married on February 4th, 1780, came of a good old stock—many of whose members had had titles that lapsed with their lifetime—but which had gradually become impoverished by extravagance. Roland, the youngest of five brothers, had been destined for the Church, but, feeling no vocation for it, he fled from his father's house, and was fortunate enough to obtain a situation in the office of one of his relations, who was superintendent of a factory at Rouen. In this house, which possessed many ramifications, Roland became deeply versed in the different branches of commerce, in manufactures, and in the principles of political economy. Scrupulously conscientious, painstaking, and observant, he steadily rose in his office, and, having been made inspector of manufactures, part of his time was spent in foreign travel, to study the improvements of industry in the interest of his Government.

Although from youth upwards Roland had been chiefly mixed up with practical life, he was a student